Change In The Mile High Air: Mike Shanahan Out As Broncos Coach After 14 Seasons

The Denver Broncos fired Mike Shanahan, head coach and vice president of operations after 14 seasons.

The announcement comes less than two days after the Broncos 52-21 loss to the San Diego Chargers, which cost them the AFC West after having a three game lead.

During Shanahan’s first four years (1995-1998), the Broncos were 47-17 and 7-1 in the playoffs. Hall of Famer John Elway was quarterback, Terrell Davis was running back and the Broncos won two Super Bowl Titles during that time.

Even though Elway, Davis and others from their Super Bowl teams retired, the Broncos had Gary Kubiak as offensive coordinator. From 1999-2005, the Broncos were 67-45 with one divisional title and 1-4 in the playoffs.

After Kubiak left to become the Houston Texans head coach, the Broncos have gone 24-24 the last three seasons and have failed to make the playoffs in all three.

Shanahan was the Broncos’ leader in wins for a coach with 138, from 1995 to 2008. Shanahan’s career with the Broncos did not start with him being a head coach.

From 1984-1987, Shanahan was the quarterback’s coach then offensive coordinator under then Broncos’ coach Dan Reeves. After coaching the Los Angeles Raiders from 1988-1989, Shanahan returned as the Broncos’ quarterback’s coach until 1991.

Shanahan became the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator from 1992-1994 under George Seifert, winning the Super Bowl in 1994.

In 1995 Shanahan succeeded Wade Phillips as head coach of the Denver Broncos.